Apparatus for producing dyed and cleaned material

ABSTRACT

Dyeing apparatus incorporates a stock tank for cleaning fluid, a mixing vessel, a kier for material to be dyed and a pump connected to the stock tank, the mixing vessel and the kier by way of valve means. A filter is also connected to the kier and to a separator capable of separating cleaning fluid from the dye carrier by way of valve means. The cleaning fluid separator may be connected to the cleaning fluid stock tank and to the inlet of the filter by valve means. A changeover valve may be provided in the connection of the kier to the pump for reversing the direction of flow through the kier.

United States Patent 1191- Gray Feb. 11, 1975 [54] AQEARAES EQ ILBRQDLIQ1N -Q L AND 3,085,416 4/1963 D'Hooge 68/! F X CLEANED MATERAL 3,783,650 l/l974 Weber et al. 68/18 C [75] Inventor: Robert Borland Gray, Kilbarchan, FORElGN PATENTS R APPLICATIONS England 824,474 12/1959 Great Britain 68/l8 R [73] Assignee: J. & P. Coats Limied Glasgow 886,128 l/l962 Great Brltaln 68/l8 R I S tl d co an Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Flledl 1 1973 Assistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe [21] AppL NO: 405,275 Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Larson. Taylor & Hinds Related US. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [62] Division of Ser. No. 239,421, March 30, 1972, Pat.

3 80] 276' Dyemg apparatus mcorporates a stock tank for cleaning fluid, a mixing vessel, a kier for material to be [30] Foreign Appncafion p Data dyed and a pump connected to the stock tank, the A 3 1971 Great Britain 8622/7] m1x1ng vessel and the k1er by way of valve means. A filter is also connected to the kier and to a separator capable of separating cleaning fluid from the dye carrier by way of valve means. The cleaning fluid separa- 58 68/18 R 18 6 18 F '84 tor may be connected to the cleanlng fluid stock tank I 1 le 0 can and to the inlet of the filter by valve means. A changeover valve may be provided in the connection of the kier to the pump for reversing the direction of flow [56] References Cited th h n UNITED STATES PATENTS mug e e 2,301,803 11/1942 Davis 68/18 R x 13 1 Drawmg 1 .ABRABA'LQS EQR ,P QDU Q ..G DY D AND CLEANED MATERIAL This is a division, of application Ser. No. 239,421 filed Mar. 30, 1972, and now US. Pat. No. 3,801,276.

The subject of this invention is an apparatus for producing dyed and cleaned material. The apparatus is applicable to any textile or non-textile material capable of being dyed.

The present applicants have previously invented and made a prior patent application for a process of producing cleaned dyed material consisting in treating dyed material with a cleaning substance consisting of acetone in a proportion from 100 to 50 percent and diluent in a proportion from to 50 percent. Other cleaning substances are known but they suffer from various disadvantages which render them less useful than acetone.

The process performed by the apparatus of the present application combines the dyeing operation and the cleaning operation into one integrated process to produce dyed cleaned material in one combined operation.

Apparatus for producing dyed cleaned material according to the invention incorporates a dye carrier stock 'tank, a cleaning fluid stock tank, a mixing vessel connected to the dye carrier stock tank and the cleaning fluid stock tank by way of valve means, a kier for receiving material to be processed, a main pump having inlet and outlet connections, valve means associated with the mixing vessel, the kier and the pump and operative to be set to connect the inlet of the pump to the mixing vessel and the outlet of the pump to the kier or to connect the kier to the inlet and the outlet of the pump at the same time to permit recirculation of the liquid contents of the kier, a filter capable of removing dye from the dye/dye carrier mixture and having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connectible by way of valve means to the kier and the outlet being connectible by way of valve means to a discharge outlet, and a cleaning fluid separator capable of separating cleaning fluid from the dye carrier and any dye contained therein, the cleaning fluid separator having an inlet connected by way of valve means to the outlet of the filter and discharge outlets for discharge of separated cleaning fluid and dye carrier with any dye remaining therein.

The cleaning fluid and dye carrier discharge outlets of the cleaning fluid separator may be arranged to discharge to respective removable receptacles or may be connected by permanent pipe connections incorporating valve and pump means to the cleaning fluid stock tank and to the inlet of the filter respectively.

The discharge outlet of the filter may be arranged to discharge to a removable receptacle or may be con nected by a permanent pipe connection incorporating valve and pump means to the dye carrier stock tank.

The cleaning fluid separator may be fitted with an inlet for introducing cleaning fluid for rinsing purposes into the still. I

An additional discharge outlet for cleaning fluid discharge may be provided at the discharge end of the filter. The additional discharge outlet may be arranged to discharge to a removable receptacle or may be connected by a permanent pipe connection incorporating valve and pump means to the rinsing cleaning fluid inlet to the cleaning fluid separator and/or to the inlet to the filter. The kier may be connected by way of valve means to the said additional discharge outlet, bypassing the filter.

A second additional discharge outlet for cleaning fluid containing dyestuff may be provided at the discharge end of the filter, said second additional discharge outlet being arranged to discharge to a removable receptacle or may be connected by a permanent pipe connection incorporating valve and pump means to a dye recovery device.

The changeover valve may be so arranged as to be capable of reversing the connections of the kier to the pump so that the liquid contents of the kier may be recirculated alternately in opposite directions through the kier.

Preferably the kier is so arranged that the liquid contents of the kier are circulated in the kier in a radial direction.

The apparatus may include an expansion tank connected to the kier to ensure that the kier is filled with either dye mixture or cleaning fluid during the appropriate steps in the process. The expansion tank is preferably connected by way of valves to the top of the kier and to the inlet of the pump.

The connection between the pump and the kier and the associated valves may be so arranged that dye mix ture and cleaning fluid can each be circulated in opposite directions through material in the kier, preferably radially inwards and radially outwards.

The apparatus may incorporate heat exchangers at appropriate points to maintain the dye mixture and, if desired, the cleaning fluid at a desired operating temperature.

The cleaning fluid separator may be a still which includes a heat exchanger for evaporating the cleaning fluid and a condenser for condensing the evaporated cleaning fluid. Alternatively, the cleaning fluid separator may be of a non-thermal type. For example it may contain a compartment for receiving unseparated fluid, a compartment for separated fluid, a permeable diaphragm separating the compartments and a pump for producing a pressure difference across the diaphragm, separation of the cleaning fluid being performed by the principle of reverse osmosis.

A schematic diagram of a dyeing and cleaning plant, according to one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which 1 denotes a dye carrier stock tank, 2 denotes a mixing chamber connected to the dye carrier stock tank 1 by a pipe 3 containing a valve 4 and connectible to a supply of dye indicated at 5. 6 denotes a cleaning fluid stock tank and 7 denotes a main pump the inlet 8 of which is arranged to be connectible by valve means 9 to the mixing chamber 2 and by valve means 10 to the cleaning fluid stock tank 6. 11 denotes a kier for receiving material to be dyed and cleaned and 12 denotes a filter capable of removing dye from the dye/dye carrier mixture and having an inlet 13 and an outlet 14. The kier 11 has two connections for passage of fluid into and out of the kier connectible by a changeover valve 15 alternatively to the discharge 16 of the pump 7 or to the inlet 8 of the pump 7. The inlet 13 of the filter 12 is alternatively connectible by way of a secondary pump 17, a valve 18 and the changeover valve 15 to the kier 11 or to the outlet 16 of the pump 7. 19 denotes a cleaning fluid separator constituted by a still capable of separating cleaning fluid from dye carrier and any dye contained in the mixture. The still contains heating means for evaporating the cleaning fluid out of the cleaning fluid/dye carrier mixture and condenser coils 20 for condensing the evaporated cleaning fluid. 21 denotes a receptacle for collection of recovered cleaning fluid. The outlet end of the filter 14 and the kier are separately connectible by valve means 22, a tank 23, a pump 24 and a dust filter 25 to the still 19 and is also connectible by valve means 26 to a dye carrier receptacle-27. 28 denotes an expansion tank connected by way of valves 29 to the top of the kier 11. The valves 30 and 31 are drain valves for draining the mixing chamber 2 and the expansion tank 28 at the end of each dyeing and cleaning cycle and when the plant is to be taken out of use. 32 denotes a receptacle connectible by a valve 33 to the bottom of the still for receiving the dyestuff/dye carrier mixture remaining after the cleaning fluid has been removed by the action of the still. 34 denotes a receptacle for holding cleaning fluid connectible by a valve 35 and a pump 36 to the inlet 13 of the filter 12. The outlet 14 of the filter 12 is connectible by a valve 37 to a receptacle 38. 39 denotes a supply of dye solvent, for example, perchloroethylene, and 40 denotes a supply of a material for which the dye solvent has a higher affinity that it has for the dye 5, for example a silicone, both connectible by respective valve means to the dye carrier stock tank 1. 41 denotes a source of supply of water connectible by valve means 42 to the cleaning fluid tank 6 for use in diluting the cleaning fluid where required where aqueous dyes are being used in the plant. The chain-dotted line 43 shows the path to be taken by cleaning fluid recovered in the still for re-introduction to the cleaning fluid stock tank 6. 44 shows the path to be taken by recovered dye carrier for re-introduction to the dye carrier stock tank 1. 45 denotes the path to be taken by cleaning fluid from the kier which contains a low proportion of dye for introduction to the still for cleaning the apparatus, 46 denotes the path to be taken by cleaning fluid from the kier which contains a low proportion of dye to be passed through the filter 12 and 47 shows the path to be taken by the dye/dye carrier separated from the cleaning fluid in the still 19 for re-introduction to the filter 12. The paths 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 as indicated may in a small plant represent the physical transfer of receptacles of the material but may, particularly in a large plant, be permanent pipe connections incorporating pumps and valves.

in practice, dye is fed to the mixing chamber 2 from the dye source and dye carrier which, as already stated, may be a mixture of silicone and perchloroethylene, from the dye carrier stock tank 1 is also fed to the mixing chamber 2 through the pipe 3 and the valve 4. The dye and the dye carrier are mixed in the mixing chamber 2. The valve 9 is then opened and the main pump 7 set in operation, also the changeover valve is set so that the dye/dye carrier mixture is pumped out of the mixing chamber 2 and into the kier 11. The valve 9 is then closed and the changeover valve 15 is operated while the pump 7 remains in operation so that the mixture is recirculated first in one direction through the batch of material in the kier and then in the other until the dyeing operation of the material is complete. The valve 18 is opened and the pump 17 is set in operation so that the dye/dye carrier mixture is pumped outof the kier 11 and into and through the filter 12 in which the dye is extracted and the dye carrier then passes through the valve 26, the valve 37 being closed, to the receptacle 27 and returns by the path 44 to the dye carrier stock tank 1. The valve 10 is now opened so that the cleaning fluid which as stated previously may be acetone flows from the cleaning fluid stock tank 6 into the mixing chamber 2 and is pumped by the pump 7 into the kier 11 (the contents of which have been previously cooled if necessary) in the same manner as the dye/dye carrier mixture was previously pumped. The appropriate valves are then operated so that the pump 7 recirculates the cleaning fluid through the kier 11 in alternate directions exactly as the dye/- dye carrier mixture was previously recirculated through the kier 11. When the cleaning fluid has taken up the loose dye from the material in the kier 11 the valve 48 is opened and the cleaning fluid/dye liquor is drained into the tank 23. The cleaning process is repeated as necessary with fresh cleaning fluid from the tank 6. When the cleaning fluid contains not more than a predetermined maximum quantity of dye it can either be passed to the receptacle 49 or may be pumped through the filter 12 as and when required to the receptacle 38. In passing the cleaning fluid through the filter 12 the cleaning fluid takes up the dye which had been previously removed by the filter 12 from the previously circulated dye/dye carrier mixture.

On occasions when the amount of dye in the cleaning fluid is considered to be small enough not to make cleaning of the filter necessary, for example after cleaning fluid has been circulated several times in succession through the same batch of material in the kier, the valve 48 will be set to cause the cleaning fluid to bypass the filter 12 until enough dye collects in the filter from several dyeing operations whereupon cleaning fluid is again passed through the filter 12 to clean it.

The cleaning fluid/dye/dye carrier mixture contained in the tank 23 is passed by means of the pump 24 through the dust filter 25 and is deposited in the still 19. in the still 19 the heating means evaporates the cleaning fluid and leaves the dye and dye carrier which had been removed from the material in the kier 11 and this remaining material is passed through the valve 33 into the receptacle 32 for subsequent returning to the system by the path 47. The cleaning fluid evaporated in the still is condensed bythe condenser coils 20 and is then returned by the path 43 to the cleaning fluid stock tank 6. The filter 12 can be washed by cleaning fluid returned by the path 46 so that it can be passed by the pump 36 through the filter 12 to the receptacle 38. Also some of the cleaning fluid may be moved through the path 45 and introduced into the still for washing out the still. The cleaning fluid used for washing the still is returned to the receptacle 38. The material from the receptacle 38 may be passed to a dyestuff recovery unit if desired.

The expansion tank 28 is used to ensure that the kier 11 is completely filled either with dye/dye carrier mixture or with cleaning fluid during the appropriate parts of the operating cycle, the kier 11 being allowed to overflow so that the excess passes into the expansion tank 28.

After the cycle is completed as described the cleaning fluid remaining in the material in the kier may be removed, e.g., by blowing or sucking hot air through it before it is removed from the kier 11 in a state free from cleaning fluid. A fresh batch of material may then be introduced to the kier and the cycle repeated.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for producing dyed and cleaned material comprising a dye carrier stock tank, a cleaning fluid stock tank, a mixing vessel connected to the dye carrier stock tank and the cleaning fluid stock tank by way of valve means, a kier for receiving material to be processed, a pump having inlet and outlet connections, valve means associated with the mixing vessel, the kier and the pump and operative to be set to connect the inlet of the pump to the mixing vessel and the outlet of the pump to the kier or to connect the kier to the inlet and the outlet of the pump at the same time to permit recirculation of the liquid contents of the kier, a filter capable of removing dye from the dye/dye carrier mixture and having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connectible by way of valve means to the kier and the outlet being connectible by way of valve means to a discharge outlet, and a cleaning fluid separator capable of separating cleaning fluid from the dye carrier and any dye contained therein, the cleaning fluid separator having an inlet connected by way of valve means to the outlet of the filter and discharge outlets for discharge of separated cleaning fluid and dye carrier with any dye remaining therein.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaning fluid and dye carrier discharge outlets of the cleaning fluid separator are connected by permanent pipe connections incorporating valve and pump means to the cleaning fluid stock tank and to the inlet of the filter respectively.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the discharge outlet of the filter is connected by a permanent pipe connection incorporating valve and pump means to the dye carrier stock tank.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaning fluid separator is fitted with an additional inlet for introducting cleaning fluid for rinsing purposes.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which a permanent pipe connection incorporating valve and pump means connects the outlet of the filter to the additional inlet to the cleaning fluid separator.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the additional discharge outlet is connected by a permanent pipe connection incorporating valve and pump means to the inlet to the filter.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the kier is connected by way of valve means to the additional discharge outlet, by-passing the filter.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a permanent pipe connection incorporating valve and pump means connects the outlet of the filter to a dye recovery device.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which changeover valve means is intercalated in the connections of the kier to the inlet and the outlet of the main pump so that the liquid contents of the kier may be recirculated alternately in opposite directions through the kier.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a pipe connection is provided from the kier to the outlet of the filter by-passing the filter.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including an expansion tank connected to the kier by way of valves to the top of the kier and to the inlet of the pump.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaning fluid separator is a still incorporating a heat exchanger for evaporating the cleaning fluid and a condenser for condensing the evaporated cleaning fluid.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaning fluid separator includes a compartment for receiving unseparated fluid, a compartment for separated cleaning fluid, a permeable diaphragm separating the compartment and a pump for establishing a pressure difference across the diaphragm, this separator acting on the principle of reverse osmosis to provide separation of the fluids. 

1. Apparatus for producing dyed and cleaned material comprising a dye carrier stock tank, a cleaning fluid stock tank, a mixing vessel connected to the dye carrier stock tank and the cleaning fluid stock tank by way of valve means, a kier for receiving material to be processed, a pump having inlet and outlet connections, valve means associated with the mixing vessel, the kier and the pump and operative to be set to connect the inlet of the pump to the mixing vessel and the outlet of the pump to the kier or to connect the kier to the inlet and the outlet of the pump at the same time to permit recirculation of the liquid contents of the kier, a filter capable of removing dye from the dye/dye carrier mixture and having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connectible by way of valve means to the kier and the outlet being connectible by way of valve means to a discharge outlet, and a cleaning fluid separator capable of separating cleaning fluid from the dye carrier and any dye contained therein, the cleaning fluid separator having an inlet connected by way of valve means to the outlet of the filter and discharge outlets for discharge of separated cleaning fluid and dye carrier with any dye remaining therein.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaning fluid and dye carrier discharge outlets of the cleaning fluid separator are connected by permanent pipe connections incorporating valve and pump means to the cleaning fluid stock tank and to the inlet of the filter respectively.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the discharge outlet of the filter is connected by a permanent pipe connection incorporating valve and pump means to the dye carrier stock tank.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaning fluid separator is fitted with an additional inlet for introducting cleaning fluid for rinsing purposes.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which a permanent pipe connection incorporating valve and pump means connects the outlet of the filter to the additional inlet to the cleaning fluid separator.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the additional discharge outlet is connected by a permanent pipe connection incorporating valve and pump means to the inlet to the filter.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the kier is connected by way of valve means to the additional discharge outlet, by-passing the filter.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a permanent pipe connection incorporating valve and pump means connects the outlet of the filter to a dye recovery device.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which changeover valve means is intercalated in the connections of the kier to the inlet and the outlet of the main pump so that the liquid contents of the kier may be recirculated alternately in opposite directions through the kier.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a pipe connection is provided from the kier to the outlet of the filter by-passing the filter.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including an expansion tank connected to the kier by way of valves to the top of the kier and to the inlet of the pump.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaning fluid separator is a still incorporating a heat exchanger for evaporating the cleaning fluid and a condenser for condensing the evaporated cleaning fluid.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaning fluid separator includes a compartment for receiving unseparated fluid, a compartment for separated cleaning fluid, a permeable diaphragm separating the compartment and a pump for establishing a pressure difference across the diaphragm, this separator acting on the principle of reverse osmosis to provide separation of the fluids. 